Maintenance decision support system and method for vehicular and roadside applications

ABSTRACT

A method and system are provided in which maintenance vehicles collect information from sensors and operators, forward the collected information to a server, and, in response, receive maps and operator instructions.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. applicationSer. No. 13/944,836, filed Jul. 17, 2013 which is a continuation-in-partof U.S. application Ser. No. 13/616,412, filed Sep. 14, 2012, which is acontinuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/345,480, filed Jan. 6,2012, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/749,325,filed Mar. 29, 2010, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.No. 12/046,121, filed Mar. 11, 2008, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 11/363,581, filed Feb. 27, 2006, which claims thebenefits of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/656,650, filed Feb.25, 2005, having the same title, all of which are incorporated herein bythis reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to modems used in stationary and mobileapplications and particularly to intelligent modems for collectingselected vehicular information.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Modems today have changed little in the last 25 years. Typical modemsoffer little if any processing power and can only be used with a giventechnology, network or connection. The processing power, if any, istypically limited and of little practical use in many applicationstoday. Such modems do not support full operating systems, and offer theuser limited, if any, programming flexibility. Changes as simple asnetwork password changes have required the modems to be uninstalled andsent to the manufacture for reprovisioning. Such modems are not SOAP XMLWeb Services compatible and cannot take data from a given data sourceand convert and send it in the now common XML format. They also are notmodular—if any given component fails, if there is a change incommunications carriers, or if a given communication carrier phases outone technology and migrates to another (as with the migration by theformer ATT Wireless from CDPD to GPRS), the modem typically has to bereplaced—they are not modular in nature and given components cannot beeasily and cheaply replaced. These limitations become especially acuteand cost prohibitive in telemetric and other applications where themodem must operate without manual intervention and/or in series withother equipment which has no or limited processing power (i.e. other“dumb” devices). For whatever the reason, not the least of which ispricing pressures, much of the equipment used for example in industry,security, telemetric, and intelligent transportation systems, carrylittle onboard processing power and/or require a separate laptop orother computer to operate, download and/or forward the applicableinformation. The addition of such laptops and other external computersis generally either impractical (such as in unmanned and roadsideapplications) or cost prohibitive (generally doubling or more the costof the modem itself). Furthermore, any given user may need connectivityfor equipment located in different carrier service areas and/or withdifferent types of connections (e.g. different wireless carriers,network connections, fiber connections, etc) and multiple types of datasources and inputs (multiple serial and USB inputs, as well aspotentially video, sound, etc.). For national and internationalapplications, and even applications on statewide and local levels,flexibility in communication options and data collection options isimportant, as is the ability of the user to program the modem, addnetwork security, store and forward data, and transfer the informationin XML format via SOAP XML Web Services and/or such other format astheir systems require. The ability to receive and process dynamicinstructions is also important but often missing or severely limited,and traditional modems do not enable the type of remote access andupgrades (complete operating systems and applications) that arenecessary to collect data and/or communicate with disparate equipment inuse today and newer equipment ever being developed and deployed.

Associated security measures further punctuate the need for greaterflexibility and power in the modems. For example, dynamic IP addressesare being deployed in many contexts including by wireless commercialcarriers in their 3G and beyond wireless data services. Dynamic IP'spresent a significant departure from the static IP's associated withhistoric poling practices and wireless CDPD functionality which had beenthe mainstay of wireless data collection prior to the advent of 3Gfunctionality. Again, the ability to add intelligence to the modem, andto enable greater programming and application support becomes importantto enable the otherwise “dumb” devices to return their new IP addressesand thus facilitate remote access and/or to transmit data andinformation back on an automated push (instead of pull) basis.Therefore, a need exists for a more powerful and flexible modem devicethat can be more easily programmed, that carries greater processing andstorage capabilities, that can take various data feeds, that does notrequire a separate laptop or other computer to function, and that canreadily and interchangeably work with a variety of communicationconnections and options. A tremendous need exists for a new modem devicewith sufficient flexibility and power to be used with relative ease inthe various situations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These and other needs are addressed by the various embodiments andconfigurations of the present invention. The present invention isdirected generally to collecting selected types of information invehicular and roadside applications and transmitting at least some ofthe collected information to a remote server.

In a first embodiment of the invention, a data collection andtransmission method is provided that includes the steps:

(a) a sensor and/or user interface collecting information regardingvehicle state and/or vehicle occupants;

(b) a slot receiving a selected private or public network card (or acommercial carrier or otherwise), the slot being configured to receivecards for multiple networks;

(c) determining a type (e.g., product identifier) and/or origin (e.g.,vendor code) of the selected network card; and

(d) selecting, for the selected network card and based on the determinedtype and/or origin, a set of a connection manager and a connectionmonitor from among a number of sets of connection managers and monitorscorresponding to different types and/or origins of network cards. Theconnection manager interacts with the corresponding network card inestablishing a connection with the corresponding wireless network, andthe connection monitor monitors a state of the connection. Theconnection manager and/or monitor of a first set is different from arespective connection manager and/or monitor of a second set.

In another embodiment, a data collection and transmission method isprovided that includes the steps:

(a) collecting information regarding vehicle state and/or vehicleoccupants;

(b) establishing a first connection with a first network to transmitcollected information to a remote server via that network;

(c) thereafter determining a status and/or health of the firstconnection;

(d) when the first connection is down and/or unhealthy, requesting theremoval of power to a selected wireless card positioned in a slot;

(e) when the request is denied, terminating execution of a communicationinitiation application; and

(f) after terminating execution of the communication initiationapplication, again requesting the removal of power to the selectedwireless card.

The present invention can provide a number of advantages depending onthe particular configuration. For example, the invention can provide apowerful and flexible, hardened modem that, among other things, utilizesadvances from the programming and computing component industries tocreate a modular modem that users can much more easily program andintegrate into their networks, and which can be used interchangeably infixed and mobile applications with a variety of data and communicationalternatives.

A number of developments enable the advance in modem functionality,flexibility, modularity and capabilities, including:

(1) better and cheaper components which can be borrowed form other thecomputing and other industries (e.g., cheaper, faster and more efficientprocessors and mainboards, and off the shelf items such as RAM, highcapacity CF and/or HDD disks, wireless connection cards and otheradvances in communications equipment and functionality);

(2) a need for new, easier and more flexible programming, includingsupport for full operating systems, applications and common languages;and

(3) a need for more connections and ports for much greater communicationand data options and flexibility.

These and other advantages will be apparent from the disclosure of theinvention(s) contained herein.

As used herein, “at least one”, “one or more”, and “and/or” areopen-ended expressions that are both conjunctive and disjunctive inoperation. For example, each of the expressions “at least one of A, Band C”, “at least one of A, B, or C”, “one or more of A, B, and C”, “oneor more of A, B, or C” and “A, B, and/or C” means A alone, B alone, Calone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B andC together.

The above-described embodiments and configurations are neither completenor exhaustive. As will be appreciated, other embodiments of theinvention are possible utilizing, alone or in combination, one or moreof the features set forth above or described in detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention can be more readily understood in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is the exterior of the Smart Modem Device or SMD case showing theprimary rear connection ports (in standard AC power connection)according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is the exterior of the case of FIG. 1 showing the front face andadditional ports there located;

FIG. 3 shows the interior of the SMD with the cover removed (includingDC module with voltage regulator and sequencer for automotiveapplications) according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows the interior of the SMD with the cover and top plateremoved (including DC module with voltage regulator and sequencer forautomotive applications) according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 shows the interior of the SMD with the cover, top plate andmainboard removed (in standard AC power configuration as in FIG. 1above) according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows SMD as used in roadside application (using AC power andPCMCIA connection card specially modified for an external antenna)according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram depicting a network architecture according toan embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram depicting a network architecture according toan embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram depicting a network architecture according toan embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of the components of a modem system accordingto an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart depicting an operational mode of the modem systemaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart depicting an operational mode of the modem systemaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a set of data structures according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 14 depicts a map according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 15 depicts a snowplow according to an embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 16 depicts a block diagram of the components of a data collectionsystem according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

System Overview

In one embodiment, the smart modem system collects and transmitsselected output information regarding a vehicle state and/or itsoccupant(s) and/or receives selected input information for use by thevehicle and/or its operator. “Vehicle state” refers to a condition,function, location, or operation of a vehicle or a component oraccessory thereof. As shown in FIG. 7, first, second, . . . nth smartmodem systems 700 a-n are incorporated in a first, second, . . . nthvehicles 704 a-n. Each of the smart modem systems is in communicationwith a wireless public or private network 708. The wireless network 708is, in turn, in communication with an enterprise Local Area Network orLAN 710 that includes a firewall 712, first, second, . . . mth servers716 a-m and first, second, . . . mth databases 720 a-m. The modemsystems collect selected types of information and continually orperiodically forward the information, via the network 708, to theenterprise network 710 for storage and processing. The stored andprocessed information can be accessed locally and directly by clients,such as PCs and laptops, internal to the enterprise network 710 orremotely by clients external to the enterprise network. The storedinformation is typically indexed by a unique SMD device name andcorresponding vehicle name pairing. As will be appreciated, the multipledatabases 720 a-m need not have a one-to-one correspondence with theservers 716 a-m, but may include more or fewer databases.

The vehicles can be motorized, such as commercial or private trucks andcars, or unmotorized, such as trailers (e.g., refrigerated trailers).Preferably, the vehicles have an on-board power source that is capableof powering the modem system and its peripheral devices, such assensors. In one configuration, the vehicles are snowplows operated by agovernmental entity (such as a municipality, city, county or state),concrete mixers, concrete pumpers, refrigerated trailers, semi trucks,busses, dump trucks, garbage trucks, delivery vehicles, maintenancevehicles, emergency vehicles, and the like.

The wireless network 708 can be any type of wireless service and/or airinterface, such as Advanced Mobile Telephone Service or AMPS, DigitalAdvanced Mobile Telephone Service or D-AMPS, Digital CommunicationService or DCS 1800, Global System for Mobile Communications/GeneralPacket Radio Service or GSM/GPSR, North American Digital Cellular,Personal Communications Services, Personal Digital Cellular, TotalAccess Communication System, High Speed Downlink Packet Access or HSDPA,Enhanced Data GSM Environment or EDGE, 1×RTT CDMA, CDMA2000, EvolutionData Optimized or EVDO, Digital Enhanced Network or iDEN, SpecializedMobile Radio or SMR, 802.11x, WiMAX or 802.16, and other public andprivate networks, with Frequency Division Multiple Access or FDMA, TimeDivision Multiple Access or TDMA, Code Division Multiple Access or CDMA,Cellular Digital Packet Data or CDPD, Wideband CDMA or WCDMA/UMTS, orothers. The public or private network 708 can be either landline orwireless. Wireless networks can be operated by one or more private orpublic networks, including carriers, such as Sprint™, Nextel™, Verizon™,Cingular™, Alltel™, Western Wireless™, AT&T Wireless™, Unicell™,Westlink™ and others, as well as affiliates thereof. Bandwidth and/ortransmission speeds, and/or the frequency and method of datatransmissions, may be intentionally limited (by setting appropriatemodem parameters) to qualify for favorable telemetry rates.

The information collected 1612 (FIG. 16) by the modem system 1600 (FIG.16) can vary depending on the application. The information 1612 caninclude vehicle speed, vehicle acceleration, enginerevolutions-per-minute, engine temperature, engine oil pressure, fuellevel, battery amperage, battery voltage, odometer setting, tirepressure, mileage per gallon, other onboard warning systems and sensors,weather conditions (such as temperature, humidity, wind speed anddirection, wind chill, raining, snowing, blowing snow, foggy, clear,overcast, etc.), road conditions (e.g., icy, slushy, snow-packed,frosty, wet, dry, etc.), physical location 1620 (FIG. 16) (e.g., GlobalPositioning System or GPS-based location), snow plow 1504 (FIG. 15)setting (e.g., snowplow position and orientation such as plow 1504 up ordown and angle relative to the truck longitudinal axis), mixture andamount of material being applied by spreader 1508 to a selected surface(e.g., salt level, sand level, magnesium sulfate level, other chemicalsor materials, and combinations thereof), revolutions-per-minute ofconcrete mixing vessels, pumping pressure of concrete, video images ofthe vehicle's exterior environment or the vehicles' interior orexterior, audio of the vehicle's interior, airborne chemicals orparticulates, radiation levels, friction measures, thermal and/orinfrared imaging, credit card receipts, passes, driver identifications,bar codes, receipts, remote databases, instructions, job tickets, anddirections and other information which can be displayed, sensed and/orinput, manually or on an automated basis.

The information is typically converted into a selected form, packetized,and transmitted over the wireless network. The form of the informationcan be in accordance with any selected language, such as the eXtensibleMarkup Language or XML, the HyperText Markup Language or HTML, RemoteMethod Invocation or RMI, or Direct Socket Connections. The packets canbe transported using any suitable protocol, such as the TransportControl Protocol/Internet Protocol suite of protocols, Simple ObjectAccess Protocol, or User Datagram Protocol.

The enterprise network 710 can perform a variety of data processingfunctions. The network 710, for example, can compare information or agiven sensed parameter to identify temporal trends or differences and,if necessary, generate appropriate alarms. The alarms can be loggedinternally and/or forwarded to the respective vehicle via the modemsystem. The vehicle operator and/or automated components thereof canthen take appropriate remedial action to address the cause of the alarm.It can prepare selected reports on the information. It can log events.The enterprise network 710 can also provide communications to the modemsystem 1600. The communications can, for example, provide instructions1624 to the vehicle operator, such as vehicle and/or ancillary deviceoperation and dispatch commands, and/or to automated components of thevehicle itself to remotely control selected vehicle operations.

In one configuration, the data processing can provide a spatial map 1400(FIG. 14) showing vehicle locations, vehicle operations, and other stateinformation. For example and with reference to FIG. 14, the map 1400 candepict the location of each of a number of snowplow trucks 1500 (FIG.15) using an icon 1404 a-d denoting each truck. The icon 1404 color canbe varied to indicate differing vehicle states. For example, the colorgreen indicates that the truck 1500 is active and working (e.g., bladedown and/or spreading deicing materials), yellow that the truck 1500 isactive but not working snow (e.g., not blading or spreading materials),red that the truck 1500 is stopped, and gray that the truck 1500 is offor out of range for at least a selected period of time. Text information1408 a-d can be depicted on the map adjacent to or associated with eachicon 1404. The text information 1408 can describe selected stateinformation associated with the truck 1500, such as a truck identifier1412, direction of travel 1416, speed 1420, status of GPS signal 1424,and timestamp 1428 of last data update for the identified truck. The map1400 can also depict, for a selected vehicle, a trace route over aselected period of time. A trace route indicates the path of travel ofthe vehicle over the selected time period.

FIG. 8 depicts an architecture according to another embodiment of thepresent invention. The architecture includes a first vehicle 800 aincluding a first modem system 804 a in communication with a firstwireless network 808 a, a second vehicle 800 b including a second modemsystem 804 b in communication with a second wireless network 808 b, . .. and an nth vehicle 800 n including an nth modem system 804 n incommunication with an nth wireless network 808 n. Each network istypically operated separately by different entities or carriers. Thevehicles are commonly operated by different business entities (e.g., areowned and operated by different companies). The first, second, . . . nthnetworks 808 a-n are in turn in communication with a third partyenterprise network 812, which provides contractual (fee-based) datastorage and optionally processing services. The enterprise network 812includes a LAN 816 interconnecting a firewall 820, a server farm orcluster of first, second, . . . nth servers 824 a-n and one or a numberof databases 828 a-n. Each of the databases 828 a-n is configured for aspecific business entity operating one or more vehicles. In oneconfiguration, the databases are replaced by a single databasepartitioned for each of the business entities. In any event, theinformation collected by the various modem systems is stored in therespective database or database partition. Data processing softwarecustomized for each entity can be resident in the enterprise network812. Representatives of the independent entities can access, from aremote client, the data for which it has authorization, such as a PC orlaptop.

In the above embodiments, the modem systems commonly include a smartmodem device and peripherals thereof, such as a video monitor (e.g., atouchscreen), external GPS and connection antenna, and wired or wirelessconnections to internal vehicular components.

Smart Modem Device

In contrast to prior art in the field, the present invention can providea powerful and flexible, hardened modem that, among other things,utilizes advances from the programming and computing componentindustries to create a modular modem that its users can much more easilyprogram and integrate into new or existing networks, and which can beused interchangeably in fixed and mobile applications with a variety ofdata and communication alternatives.

This smart modem device (sometimes referred to “smart modem” or “smartdevice”—or “SMD” for short) can be built around ultra-compact and highlyintegrated mainboards and modem components originally developed in thecomputing, programming and other industries, including embedded highperformance, low heat, ultra low power processors, replaceable RAM andCompact Flash (CF) memory, and various internal and external ports thatcan be used for communications and the transmission and/or receipt ofinformation. Various modular options can also be added and incorporatedat manufacture or in aftermarket, including additional memory, enhancedvideo cards, additional connections and inputs, additional memory, etc.

The SMD can incorporate full programming language support and be fullyuser programmable in various common languages such as Perl, Java, Cvariants, .NET and others. This programming flexibility can be used bothfor purposes of setting up and directing the transfer or receipt of dataand information, as well as for the processing thereof, if and to theextent such field processing and/or translations are required in thefield. In addition to interfacing in traditional standards such asASCII, HEX and other formats, the SMD is fully SOAP XML Web Servicescompatible. In addition to the communications elements of the modem,users can run Linux, Microsoft and other programs to provide additionaldesired utility and functionality, such as for taking MPEG 4 or othervideo from the field, running applications and peripheral services inthe mobile or field environment, without the need for separate equipmentsuch as laptops, computers or processors. The SMD can provide flexiblemodem functionality on a stand-alone basis. The SMD can be remotelyaccess, upgraded and/or reconfigured if and as so necessary.

The SMD can anticipate and provide for interchangeable and upgradeablecommunications and data options through PCMCIA, CF, RJ-45, RS-232, USBand other connections. Wireless services, for example, can be used onone network in one part of a state, and on another network in anotherpart of the state, with the simple interchange of a connection card inthe PCMCIA (cardbus) in the back of the device, and a correspondingchange in drivers for the new network and card. Other devices can be aseasily changed to operate on network connections, fiber connections,wireless Ethernet connections and other alternatives. Such conversions,as well as simply the replacement of a damaged card or component, can bedone at the nominal cost of that given card or component, rather thanthe replacement of the entire device.

The SMD can provide a powerful and flexible, hardened modem that, amongother things, utilizes advances from the programming and computingcomponent industries to create a modular modem that users can much moreeasily program and integrate into new networks, and which can be usedinterchangeably in fixed and mobile applications with a variety of dataand communication alternatives. The flexibility, power and integratedmodularity marry hardware and programming to provide a truly synergisticadvance in the state of the art in modem technology, and associatedapplications of telemetry, data collection and communications. Withoutrepeating what has already been said above (and incorporated herein),the device is below presented in its various component pieces. The modempreferably has a modular design, including both the hardware andsoftware, as well as the interchangeable external components, includingwithout limitation the various COM and data options with which it works(e.g., connection cards, land lines, GPS units, cameras and the variousvehicles and field devices to which it is attached). Significantly, ifany given component is damaged or destroyed, or otherwise made obsoleteby advances in science and technology, such components can generally bereplaced and upgraded for nominal cost and the device redeployed. Theentire unit does not have to be replaced, and maintenance and repairsfor individual units (or planned groups of units) replace broad andexpensive capital replacement programs as communication carriers migrateto ever new and improved communications options and services, or clientsmigrate to private or other public networks. Commercial connection cardsfor example can be swapped out, one for another, and often at no netupfront cost (after activation credit), by simply popping out the oldPCMCIA card and popping in the new with the new connection driver.Mainboards can be replaced in nominal time and at low cost. Memory canbe expanded for many GBs of additional storage at low cost. The devicecan be completely reprovisioned for use with new cameras or otherequipment by simply downloading new files (remotely or on-site) orswapping out the internal CF for a new disk. Historic problems ofreplacing entire devices and incurring thousands (sometimes millions) ofdollars of capital upgrade costs has been broken down and replaced witha more practical use and marriage of more sophisticated and flexiblecomponents from the fields of hardware, software and general design.

The following provides a more detailed discussion of the variouscomponents advantages, features and objects of the SMD.

Case size is currently primarily a size of the existing components and atrade-off in costs. Bigger becomes impractical. Smaller currently getsdisproportionately expensive. With current component sizes and pricepoints, we typically use cases such as the 2.5″.times.8″.times.10″ Morex#3688 steel case 1 featured in the accompanying photos. It isanticipated that smaller cases will be usable as ever smaller componentsbecome more price competitive. While smaller cases can be used, a largercase can provide a bit extra room to work with, dissipate heat, addadditional internal components when and as desired (e.g. additionalinternal memory 25 & 29), and yet is small enough to be collocated withother equipment in even larger or more protective cases such as NEMA 4and other environmentally protective cases such as the roadside boxshown in FIG. 6. Internally, the tray is modified to mount the internalCF 27 a, 27 b and 27 c, the DC voltage regulator and sequencer forautomotive applications 25 (if not otherwise incorporated directly intothe power supply 42), and other items.

All Figures show the 2.5″.times.8″.times.10″ Morex case configuration,though other cases can also be used. Any suitable case that canaccommodate the following components can be used. FIGS. 3 and 4 show theembedded system in the case with integrated VIA mainboard and 1 GHzprocessor, 2 GB compact flash for programming and data storage, 256 MBof heat shielded RAM, and an ITPS DC module with voltage regulator andsequencer as used for automotive applications. Other mainboards andcomponents could be substituted.

The SMD is designed for both fixed and mobile applications. AC/DC poweris typically incorporated. Such power supplies are generally sourcedfrom the applicable case manufacturer, as the Morex Procase power boardshown in the accompanying photos 42, but any reliable power supply willdo. A voltage regulator should be used with the power board for mobileapplications. A combination regulator and sequencer is eitherincorporated into the power board 42 or separately collocated such asthe ITSP regulator and sequencer from Mini-Box 25 is typicallyincorporated to provide key on/off functionality with delayed power-offfor an orderly initiation of the shut-down of the device and whateverfunctionality is then active.

Any small form factor mainboard with appropriate connections can beused, such as the VIA MII mainboard shown in the accompanying FIGS. 1, 3and 4, and items 2-10, 30, 35, and 38-39. For data, video and otherinputs, connections should be provided for major connection typesintended to be used, including currently and without limitation,multiple USB, 1394. RCA and Serial connection options 6, 10, 11, 13 and39. For communications, connections or slots should be available for,among other things Ethernet, PCMCIA (cardbus) & CF 7, 8, 9 and 39.Multiple IDE slots 35 a and 35 b, at least one PCI slot 38, and at leastone DIMM slot for standard RAM 36 should be included. Typically themainboards would carry an embedded ultra low power, ultra low heatprocessor such as a 600 MHz or the 1 GHz VIA C3 37 and support standardRAM 36 of typically 256 MB or more (the VIA mainboard 30 supports up to1 GB of RAM). It is important that the embedded system use a processorthat is low power low heat, or heat buildup can become an issue in thetight enclosures involved in various applications such as shown in FIG.6. Advance in the computer component industry in these regards, andprocessors in particular (with significant advances in processing speedswith such ultra low power, ultra low heat processors as the C3 37) havemade this advance in modem technology possible. Future mainboards can beeven smaller, carry more or different ports and connections and evenfaster more efficient processing capabilities. In any event, themainboard and associated faceplate (2 and 30) are inserted in andaffixed to the applicable case. These “new” mainboards are substantiallyfaster, and more modular and flexible, than mainboards found intraditional modems.

Any standard RAM 36 can be used. Typically, 256 MB or more of RAM isincorporated. In the accompanying FIG. 4, we are shown using 256 MB ofheat shielded RAM from SuperTalent. The VIA mainboard 30, shown in theexamples can support up to 1 GB of RAM. Additional RAM may be supportedand used in the future. Such RAM can be used in either typical fashion(as most users use their PC—e.g. where operating files are primarilycarried on separate memory such as an HDD drive or in this case CF 27 c,and there is an ongoing interaction between the two) or in morespecialized ways such as with special optical files or read only memory(ROM) where all operation code (operating files as well as application)are loaded into RAM on boot from the separate storage. In the later casefor example, all operable code is bundled into one optical file or ROM,either of which can be loaded into and run from RAM once the device ispowered up. Any malicious or accidental attempts to change or damage theoperating code have but a temporary impact as the optical file willagain and automatically reloaded in original form when the RAM nextreads the file, such as on reboot or restart. In such cases, the RAM hasto be larger than the combined files (ie. all programming and operatingfiles). A fairly sophisticated application can run in this manner onless than 1 GB of RAM.

CF memory is typically used to get away from moving parts such as in HDDdrives, and to provide a more hardened unit. Any CF can be used—theenclosed pictures show a 2 Gb CF card by SanDisk. While avoiding themoving parts of an HDD, the CF provides many of the benefit of solidstate circuitry but with substantially more flexibility in terms ofprogrammability and ease of use. An IDE to CF adaptor board 27 b andshortened IDE cable 34 is used to integrate the CF memory with themainboard 30 and associated functionality. Where, as with the VIAmainboard 30, an additional IDE slot is available, additional internalCF or HDD storage capacity can be added. Removable external CF memorycan also be used in the CF slot provided and accessible from thefaceplate 9. If the user prefers, an HDD (typically 20 GB or higher) canbe used in lieu of or addition to the internal CF. The SMD can also bootfrom other memory, including USB sticks, if desired or needed.

The importance of having various COM and data options cannot beoverstated, and the SMD specifically provides as much flexibility astechnology and available components allow in this regard. The SMDanticipates and provides for interchangeable and upgradeablecommunications and data options through PCMCIA, CF, RJ-45, RS-232, USBand other connections, e.g 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11. Wireless services, forexample, can be used on one network in one part of a state, and onanother network in another part of the state, with the simpleinterchange of a connection card in the PCMCIA (cardbus) 8 in the backof the device, and a corresponding change in drivers for the new networkand card. Other SMD's can be as easily changed to operate on networkconnections, fiber connections, wireless Ethernet connections 7 andother alternatives including dial-up land lines via a PCMCIA card 8.Such conversions, as well as simply the replacement of a damaged card orcomponent, can be done at the nominal cost of that given card orcomponent, rather than the replacement of an entire device, as has beennecessary with traditional external modems which operate on only onenetwork and incorporate limited if any processing capabilities.

In the context of PCMCIA and CF connection cards 8 (which themselves aresometimes referred to as NIC cards, modems or aircards), the SMDprovides a host environment much like, but much more flexible andpowerful than, the external modems which themselves incorporate modulescomparable to that in the PCMCIA or CF connection cards but which havebut limited processing power and are far less flexible in terms ofoverall programming, processing or network changes. Such externalmodems, once so manufactured, are typically only usable on the networkfor which they were designed. If for example, a user changes carriers,the external modem is of no use or value. If the carrier changestechnology (such as CDPD to GPRS), the external modem is of no use orvalue. Conversely, the SMD allows for the easy and quick upgrade oftechnology by the change of the PCMCIA card, and/or the quick change toan entirely different network or even to a fixed connection such asfiber, network, or wireless Ethernet where practical and available.

Programmability provides a new, significantly higher level of modemflexibility and performance. Typical modems offer little if anyprocessing power and can only be used with a given technology, networkor connection. The processing power, if any, is typically limited and oflittle practical use in many applications today. Such modems do notsupport full operating systems, and offer the user limited if anyprogramming flexibility. Changes as simple as network password changeshave required the modems to be uninstalled and sent to the manufacturefor reprovisioning. Limitations with existing systems become especiallyacute and cost prohibitive in telemetric and other applications wherethe modem must operate without manual intervention and/or in series withother equipment which has no or limited processing power (i.e. other“dumb” devices). For whatever the reason, not the least of which ispricing pressures, much of the equipment used for example in industry,security, telemetric, and intelligent transportation systems, carrylittle onboard processing power and/or require a separate laptop orother computer to operate, download and/or forward the applicableinformation. The addition of such laptops and other external computersis generally either impractical (such as in unmanned and roadsideapplications) or cost prohibitive (generally doubling or more the costof the modem itself). Furthermore, any given user may need connectivityfor equipment located in different network service areas and/or withdifferent types of connections (e.g. different wireless carriers,network connections, fiber connections, etc) and multiple types of datasources and inputs (multiple serial and USB inputs, as well aspotentially video, sound, etc.). For national and internationalapplications, and even applications on statewide and local levels,flexibility in communication and data collection options is important,as is the ability the user to program the modem, add network security,store and forward data, and to transfer the information in XML formatvia SOAP XML Web Services and/or such other format as their systemsrequire.

The SMD incorporates full operating system and programming languagesupport, by virtue of and with appropriate utilization of the abovecomponents. The SMD is fully user programmable in various commonlanguages such as Perl, Java, C variants, .NET and others. Thisprogramming flexibility can be used both for purposes of setting up anddirecting the transfer or receipt of data and information, as well asfor the processing thereof, remote access to download or upgradeprogramming or reach remote sites and equipment, receive and postmessages to remote users, enable remote users to interface with theoffice, the internet or other systems.

The ability of the SMD to receive and process dynamic instructions isbeneficial but often missing or severely limited in traditional modemswhich enable this type of remote access, and cannot even carry fulloperating systems or common modern applications, let alone take, forexample, a remote upgrade of touch screen menus used to collect mobileinformation or to communicate with a lot of the disparate equipment inuse today and newer equipment ever being developed.

The SMD's expanded programmability and more powerful mainboard andcomponents enable the modem to take, process, store and/or forwardinformation as not otherwise possible. Traditional modems typically havebeen set up to simply establish a connection to forward or allow thepolling of given data. Traditional modems were not designed to runtoday's operating systems or applications, or to really do more thanrudimentary tasks. The traditional modem cannot provide the hostenvironment necessary to support the varied drivers and softwarenecessary to support for example the many peripheral devices beingintegrated today, including without limitation USB cameras, touch screenmonitors, weather station components, travel time sensors, mobilesensors and data feeds, etc.

With the SMD, this is possible and more. Operating systems,applications, special or new drivers, etc. all can be loaded, programmedand reprogrammed, and even be remotely accessed and changed ifnecessary. Peripherals can be added which require associated software torun and operate—software that could not otherwise be loaded ontraditional modems by the end user, if at all. Off-the-shelf software,custom applications, legacy interfaces, new interfaces, special securityoverlays, etc. could not be readily loaded on traditional modems by theend user, if at all. With SMD's, users can load Linux, Microsoft andother systems, programs, drivers, etc. . . . to provide additionaldesired utility and functionality, or to support the peripheralequipment to which the smart modem device is attached. Applicationsrequiring field processing, special drivers and/or software, such as forMPEG 4 video, barcode scanners, RFID sensors, work order forms, ERPsystems, etc., can be integrated with the smart modem device without theneed for separate laptops, computers or processors.

The programmability of the SMD contributes to the flexibility andmodularity of the device, and in extending those benefits to theperipheral equipment with which the SMD is connected (eg. camera, gps,weather equipment, monitors, etc. . . . even the communication card orcarrier itself). When a given component or peripheral fails or isotherwise replaced, a new component or peripheral (even an entirelydifferent peripheral) can be attached and new drivers and associatedsoftware can be easily loaded. If there is a change in communicationscarriers, or if a given communication carrier phases out one technologyand migrates to another (as with the migration by the former ATTWireless from CDPD to GPRS), only the connection card and drivers needbe replaced, not the entire smart modem device.

The above also enables the SMD to be fully SOAP XML Web Servicescompatible, unlike traditional modems. XML interfaces are becomingincreasingly important in networking disparate equipment and systems,reducing network overhead, etc. In addition to interfacing withtraditional formats such as ASCII, HEX and others, the SMD can providefull XML interfaces. The SMD, for example, can be easily loaded withJAVA and an associated application to receive data and forward it in XMLin a SOAP XML Web Services compatible format. This capability and theability to adapt and integrate with other and new services and formatswill become especially important for deployments over time.

New and ever changing security requirements, changes in networkconnections and systems, authentication schemes (internal and carrierrelated), further punctuate the need for the enhanced programmabilityand capabilities of the SMD. As they evolve, such changes and overlayscan be integrated and loaded, and later changed and updated asnecessary, with relative ease. The SMD is programmable andreprogrammable. CF cards can be changed in the field to completelyreprogram the device. Other security changes can be made by USB stick orremote access. In short, the SMD provides flexibility to grow and adjustwith future needs and developments.

FIG. 9 depicts a signal flow diagram, FIG. 15 a snowplow, and FIG. 16 amodem-based system according to an embodiment of the present invention.The modem-based system 1600 comprises one or more network cards 904 a-p,each plugged into a corresponding slot (not shown) of the modem or SMD900, an antenna 906 for duplexed communications with a network, a GPSmodule 908 and corresponding antenna 912, a plurality of sensors 916a-q, a user interface 920, and the SMD 900.

The network cards 904 a-p are provided by a wireless carrier or networkadministrator, and contain the logic and related parameters required foraccess to the corresponding network. Although multiple network cards aredepicted, it is to be understood that the present invention includes anSMD configuration having only one slot, as shown in the SMDconfiguration discussed above. Each of the network cards isinterchangeably received in each slot. Thus, cards from differentnetworks or different types of cards from the same network can be placedin any of the slots. As will be appreciated, each card normally has anassociated unique identifier (for example a ten digit number assigned tothe card by the carrier). The card is typically activated by contactingthe service provider or network administrator, or by doing an automatedactivation via an applicable web page.

The GPS module 908 can be any suitable GPS module, including the GPSmodule discussed previously. Typically, the GPS module forwards digitallocation signals (e.g., GPRMC NMEA sentences) to the SMD 900. The timingof the signals is typically controlled by the GPS module. A preferredGPS module 908 integrates the antenna 906 and GPS module 908 into a GPSpuck positioned on the exterior of the vehicle. The GPS module can beplugged into various available ports on the SMD, including speciallycreated ports such as a special five-pin DIN connection. The GPS modulecan also be separated from the antenna and collocated inside of the SMD.

The sensors 916 can be of a variety of types and monitor differentparameters. The sensors, for example, can include temperature sensors(e.g., for ambient and engine temperatures), pressure gauges (e.g., foroil, fuel pressure, and/or cement pumping pressure), sensors formeasuring the revolutions per minute of a motor, engine, or rotatingmember, speedometers, odometers, compass, and various other wired orwireless sensors and inputs from equipment on or near the vehicle. Inone configuration, the sensors include a still and/or motion videoimaging device 1608 to provide still or full motion images to the remoteserver. In one configuration, the sensors 916 include a microphone toprovide audio to the remote server. Analog-to-digital conversion isemployed, as needed, to convert analog signals from sensors 916 todigital format.

The user interface 920 can include a variety of devices, such as akeyboard and/or monitor. The monitor is preferably a touchscreen. Themonitor can provide the operator with various options to controloperations of the vehicle (e.g., pumping speed, plow blade, bucket, ortruck bed, mixture of materials to be applied to a surface, rpms ofconcrete mixer, and the like), provide data input regarding the vehiclestate (e.g., snowplow is raised or lowered) or environmental conditions,transmit text messages to the remote server, receive text messages fromthe remote server, and views of the data transmitted and/or received.

The SMD 900 includes a number of internal logic modules for performingvarious operations. The connection managers 924 a-x configure the SMD900 as required by the particular network card 904 in the slot orotherwise selected by the user and interacts with the card to establisha communication session with the remote server. The connection monitors928 a-x monitor the health and/or state of the connection and, if thehealth is unacceptable (e.g., the connection has too much interferenceor the Quality of Service is unacceptable) or the link used by theconnection is down, reestablishes the communication session by settingup another connection. Typically, a set formed by one connection managerand monitor corresponds to each type and/or origin of network card 904used interchangeably in the slot(s). The system clock 936 issynchronized to a universal time clock and provides internal timinginformation to control SMD operations and timestamp collected data. Thememory 940 is used during normal processing operations and as a bufferfor data 1612 collected when the connection with the network is eitherunhealthy or down. Finally, the system manager 932 oversees operationsof the SMD, identifies the types of digital incoming signals (e.g., bysensor 916 type) and, based on the type of incoming signal, translatesthe digital signals received from the sensors 916 to a selected languageor format, packetizes the collected data 1612 with a data-typeidentifier included in the payload, and applies headers to the packetsfor uploading onto the network, handles mail and messaging functions,includes drivers and programming for the user interface, performs remotesystem maintenance and troubleshooting functions, and other functions.

In one configuration, the manager 932 process multimedia information.For example, the manager 932 uses the following parameters to processvideo information: the URI address of the remote server, the imagingdevice name, time interval between snapshots, Boolean value for whetherimages should have a current date/time stamp, Boolean value for whetherattachments should be sent as DIME or MIME attachments, temporary filestorage location, and the name 1616 of the SMD 900 sending the videoinformation. The name 1616 of the SMD 900 is used by the remote dataprocessing network 710 to associate the received information with thecorresponding vehicle; thus, the sending device name 1616 is selected toidentify uniquely the SMD.

Operation of the Connection Manager and Monitor

The operation of the connection manager and monitor will now bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 10-12.

FIG. 10 depicts the process used to establish a link or connection witha network using a selected network card 904. The process starts in step1000 when the user inserts a network card into a slot.

In step 1004, the manager 932 identifies the card vendor code andproduct identifier. This is obtained by querying the card and/or bymanual input such as via the touchscreen monitor.

In step 1008, the manager 932 selects the corresponding connectionmanager 924 a-x and monitor 928 a-x for the particular card type andvendor. This can be done by dynamically writing the appropriateconnection manager 924 a-x and monitor 928 a-x, or by commenting out theunselected sets of connection manager 924 a-x and monitor 928 a-x, or byplacing a character or symbol indicating nonexecutable comment text infront of the code associated with the unselected connection managers 924a-x and monitors 928 a-x. The selected set of connection manager 924 a-xand monitor 928 a-x is not commented out.

In one configuration using a Linux operation system in the SMD, theconnection manager 924 a-x and connection monitor 928 a-x are,collectively, formed by a number of daisy-chained files. In thisconfiguration, the connection monitor 928 a-x refers to theinitialization file while the connection manager 924 a-x refers to thechat script file, peers file, pap-secrets file, and ip-up.local file.

The initial file in the chain is the connection monitor 924 a-x and is afile containing initialization information and script to perform variousoperations, including the next file in the file sequence. The file, forexample, contains the logic of FIG. 11.

The next file in the chain is the peers file, which controls andconfigures (e.g., provides setup parameters for) a communicationsinitiation application (not shown) of the operating system. Thecommunication initiation application is preferably a part of theconnection manager. The communications initiation application effects,after the link with the network is established, communication with othernodes via the network. As will be appreciated, in the Linux operatingsystem the communications initiation application is known as thePoint-to-Point Protocol Daemon or PPPD. PPP is the protocol used forestablishing internet links over dial-up modems, DSL connections, andmany other types of point-to-point links. The PPPD daemon works togetherwith the kernel PPP driver to establish and maintain a PPP link withanother system (called the peer) and to negotiate Internet Protocol (IP)addresses for each end of the link. PPPD can also authenticate the peerand/or supply authentication information to the peer. As will beappreciated, PPP can be used with other network protocols besides IP.

The communications initiation application controls the card and, interalia, provides address information to the card. The peers file includesconnection information to be used for the connection, such as theidentity of the port (e.g., serial port name), the size of the windowfor used for input/output (e.g., desired baud rate for the serialdevice), whether the connection is to be persistent, the connect scriptused to connect the card, disconnect script used to disconnect the card,and other options such as default rate, speed, ttyname, crtscts, lock,mru, mtu, and passive.

The next file in the chain is the chat file, which contains the commandset required, for the particular card vendor and type, to establish theconnection. The command set typically is an ordered series of queries tothe card and response definitions provided by the card in response tothe queries.

The final file in the chain sequence is the pap-secrets file, whichcontains a username and password.

Another file in the sequence is the ip-up.local file, which, after thelink is established with the network, is used by the modem to select aDomain Name Service or DNS server and, inter alia, starts a timesynchronization sequence with a universal time server to maintainsynchronization between the system clock 936 and universal time.

In step 1012, the manager 932 invokes the connection monitor, which inturn invokes the connection manager 924 to establish the connection withthe network.

In step 1016, the card sets up the connection. Generally, the cardreceives an identifier or address (e.g., telephone number, ESN or other)from the communication initiation application. The identifier or addressis associated with the card and informs the network that the card isassociated with an authorized wireless device. In the configuration, thenetwork sets up a serial connection with the SMD followed by a handshakeand authentication procedure between the card and network. Other linksare also possible. After the link is up, the network assigns an IPaddress to the SMD. As will be appreciated, certain networks, such asSprint and Verizon, automatically assign and provide a link with a DNSserver address while others, such as Cingular, fail to provide a linkwith a DNS server address. For the latter networks, the DNS serveraddress is included in the connection manager files. Regardingauthentication, some network services, such as Cingular, use the sameusername and password for a number of network cards of the same type.Others, such as Sprint, include the post-card-activation authenticationinformation in the card itself, so non pap-secrets file is needed in theconnection manager.

FIGS. 11 and 12 depict the operation of the connection monitor 928 a-xafter a link has been established.

The process starts with the establishment of a link in step 1100.

In decision diamond 1104, the connection monitor 928 a-x determineswhether or not the link is up. The performance of this step depends onthe air interface used by the network. With most air interfaces such asthe current CDMA services, the monitor 928 a-x checks locally todetermine if the monitor is up. If communication is lost with thenetwork, the link is not up. In that event, the card automaticallyinforms the manager 932 that the link is down. The system manager 932,in response, removes the file for the link. In the Linux operationsystem, the manager 932 removes a point-to-point protocol (ppp) linkfrom the route file when it is informed that a link is disconnected. Ifthere is a ppp entry in the route file, the link is still up. If thereis no ppp entry in the route file, the link is down. The monitor 928 canthus determine readily whether or not the link is up.

With certain connection cards on the GPRS air interfaces, the card doesnot inform the manager that the link has been disconnected, and the pppentry remains in the route file even when the link is down (the “pppException”). In this case, the monitor functions differently andforwards a query (e.g., DNS lookup request) to the DNS server. If aresponse is received, the monitor knows that the link is still up. If noresponse is received from the DNS server, the monitor knows that thelink is down.

If the link is up, the monitor proceeds to decision diamond 1116 andrepeats the foregoing operation after a predetermined time interval.

If the link is down, the monitor proceeds to step 1108. In step 1108,the monitor determines if the connection manager (i.e., thecommunications initiation application [e.g., PPPD]) is running. Statedanother way, the monitor determines whether the communicationsinitiation application is configured for a persistent connection. Whenso configured, the communications initiation application will retryautomatically to reestablish the connection with the network.Accordingly, when the communications initiation application isconfigured for a persistent connection the monitor proceeds to decisiondiamond 1116 as there is no need for it to effect reestablishment of theconnection. When the communications initiation application is notconfigured for a persistent connection, the monitor proceeds to step1120 in which it resets the card and effects reestablishment of theconnection. In one configuration, the monitor simulates user removal andreinsertion of the card into the slot.

FIG. 12 depicts, in more detail, the process of step 1120 in the case ofthe “ppp Exception” noted above, that is used to reset the card in theevent of a lost link.

In step 1200, the monitor 928 a-x performs a soft reset of the card. Thesoft reset is performed by the manager 932, which removes power to theslot and then reapplies it. Some cards, however, do not permit themanager to remove power from the slot.

In decision diamond 1204, the monitor 928 a-x determines whether themanager 932 was successful in removing and reapplying power to the slot.When the soft reset has not been successful, the monitor 928 a-x, instep 1208 shuts down the communications initiation application 930.Because the application is shut down during operation or “hard killed”,the manager 932 removes remnants from the application's operation toensure that the remnants do not interfere with the ensuing steps of theprocess.

After removal of the remnants, the monitor 928 a-x, in step 1212,repeats the soft reset of the card.

When the soft reset is successful in decision diamond 1204 or after thesoft reset of step 1212, the monitor 928 a-x, in step 1216, provides thecard attributes to the manager 932. Primarily, the attributes pertain tohow the SMD 900 is to recognize the card, e.g., as a serial or UniversalSerial Bus or USB device as the manager 932 will need to set up a serialor USB connection, as appropriate. The communications initiationapplication is configured for serial connections. When the card is a USBdevice, the manager 932 will recognize automatically the card as a USBdevice, and, when the card is a serial device, the manager 932 willrecognize automatically the card as a serial device. So that the cardwill interface with the communications initiation application, themonitor 928 a-x instructs the manager 932 to set the card attributes fora serial device. When the card is natively a serial device, the monitor928 a-x provides the manager 932 with a baud rate for the serialconnection. There is no need to provide a baud rate when the card isnatively a USB device as the baud rate for the connection with the USBcard will be set automatically by the manager 932 at a sufficiently highrate.

The connection may be terminated voluntarily by the SMD 900 in responseto a set of predetermined trigger events. One trigger event is a commandby the user. Another trigger is when the received signal strength fromthe network falls below a selected threshold. Signal strength may bemeasured using the mechanisms currently used by cell phones to measureand report the signal strength to the user, even though the user has notyet placed a call. Yet another trigger is one or more selected qualityof service (QoS) parameters falling below a corresponding predeterminedthreshold. Exemplary QoS parameters include packet loss, jitter,latency, etc. To prevent automatic reestablishment of the connection,the manager 932 can prevent the monitor 928 and communicationsinitiation application from running. Alternatively, the manager 932 canpermit the monitor 928 and communications initiation application to runin an attempt to reestablish the connection. Alternatively, the manager932 can permit the monitor 928 and communications initiation applicationto run but select a different one of the cards (and a different network)for the connection attempt. In this alternative, the SMD 900 will movefrom network to network in response to variations in the health of theestablished link.

Data collection by the SMD 900 may be periodic or continuous. Periodicdata collection may be based on one or more trigger events, such as thepassage of a selected time interval, passage of a given number of dataentries (either in total or sorted by parameter), detection of a changein one or more selected state parameters or variables, or receipt of adata transmission command by a user. When data collection is to betransmitted and the connection is either down or up but unhealthy, theSMD buffers the data in the memory 940 while the monitor 928 attempts toreestablish the connection with the same or a different network. Whenthe connection is reestablished, the data is transmitted via the networkto the remote server.

To conserve bandwidth, the manager may filter by a filter 1628 (FIG. 16)the collected data that is transmitted to the remote server. The datamay be filtered on a number of criteria, such as duplication or type.Regarding duplication when the data has not changed since a priortransmission, the data would not have to be resent. Only data that haschanged since the prior transmission could be resent. Regarding datatype, certain types of data may be sent automatically to the remoteserver while other types of data may only be sent in response to atrigger event, such as a change in the data or detection of an alarmcondition of a vehicular state parameter, or a manual trigger via atouchscreen input.

A number of variations and modifications of the invention can be used.It would be possible to provide for some features of the inventionwithout providing others.

For example in one alternative embodiment, the SMD 900 is configured forremote software upgrades, particularly for firmware. The software is notonly that resident in the SMD 900 but also for an ancillary component,such as the sensors 916. The upgrade is normally started by the operatorof the vehicle commanding the SMD 900, via the user interface 920, toinitiate a software upgrade. The manager 932 contacts the remote serverand checks for an appropriate upgrade. As part of the interaction, themanager 932 may need to provide authentication information, such as thename 1616 of the SMD 900, a username and a password, or anauthentication code. If an upgrade is located, the SMD 900 pulls theupgrade from the server 824 via the selected network. The manager 932then proceeds to install the upgrade on the respective SMD 900 orancillary component.

In another alternative embodiment, the SMD 900 is configured to detectautomatically a network card 904 based on vendor and type and selectautomatically the corresponding set of connection manager 924 a-x andmonitor 928 a-x. When a card is inserted or otherwise selected by auser, the manager 932 accesses the vendor code and product identifierresident on the card and retrieves a lookup table, such as that depictedin FIG. 13, from memory 940. The manager 932 maps the vendor code andproduct identifier set received from the card to receive an identifierfor the corresponding set of connection manager 924 a-x and monitor 928a-x. In one configuration, the identifier is a memory address or pointerto one or more selected files in the corresponding set. Because in oneconfiguration the connection manager 924 a-x files are daisy-chained tothe connection monitor 928 a-x, the identifier can be a pointer ormemory address of the connection monitor 928 a-x only.

In another alternative embodiment, the SMD is used in stationaryroadside applications to collect various types of information. Forexample, in one configuration, the data collected can be the speed,volume and/or occupancy of passing vehicles. In another configuration,vehicle identification information, such as a license plate number orlicense plate image, can also be sent with the speed of the identifiedvehicle. In another embodiment, photos of mountain passes,intersections, or other locations can be periodically sent back to theserver. The collected data is transmitted to a server of a central dataprocessing facility. In this configuration, the SMD can be eitherconnected to power or be collocated with an on board power source, whichcould be a generator or a solar powering array. The data may betransmitted wirelessly or over a fiber network to the central dataprocessing facility.

In yet another alternative embodiment, the SMD uses operating systemsother than Linux, such as a Microsoft® operating system.

In yet another embodiment, dedicated hardware implementations including,but not limited to, Application Specific Integrated Circuits or ASICs,programmable logic arrays, and other hardware devices can likewise beconstructed to implement the methods described herein. Furthermore,alternative software implementations including, but not limited to,distributed processing or component/object distributed processing,parallel processing, or virtual machine processing can also beconstructed to implement the methods described herein.

In yet another embodiment, a data scrubbing server may be used. Datascrubbing is the process of detecting and correcting or removing corruptor inaccurate records from a record set, table, or database. The termrefers to identifying incomplete, incorrect, inaccurate or irrelevantparts of the data and then replacing, modifying, or deleting this dirtydata. After scrubbing, a data set will be consistent with other similardata sets in the system. The inconsistencies detected or removed mayhave been originally caused by user entry errors, by corruption intransmission or storage, or by different data dictionary definitions ofsimilar entities in different stores. The actual process of datascrubbing may involve removing typographical errors or validating andcorrecting values against a known list of entities. The validation maybe strict (such as rejecting any address that does not have a validpostal code) or fuzzy (such as correcting records that partially matchexisting, known records).

Some data scrubbing solutions may scrub data by cross checking with avalidated data set. Also data enhancement, where data is made morecomplete by adding related information, is a common data scrubbingpractice. Data scrubbing may also involve activities such asharmonization of data. For example, harmonization of data may consist ofharmonizing short codes (e.g. st, rd) to actual words (e.g. street,road).

When a data scrubbing server is used the sets of collected informationare sent to the data scrubbing server that identifies bad sets ofcollected information by any of the processes listed above. Bad sets ofcollected information may contain information that is incomplete orinaccurate or defective in any of the ways listed above. The datascrubbing server may correct or delete or otherwise manipulate the badsets of collected information before forwarding the sets of collectedinformation to the server for further processing.

In yet another embodiment, the sets of collected information aredirected through one or more auxiliary servers before the sets ofcollected information are sent to the server for further processing.These auxiliary servers may add data to the sets of collectedinformation, copy the sets of collected information for other uses, usethe sets of collected information for other processes before forwardingthe data, or perform any other process on the data as would berecognized by one of ordinary skill in the art, or do nothing with thedata except for re-forwarding it.

It should be appreciated that the present system and method could beemployed in the summer as well as the winter and is not limited solelyto use in the winter in connection with snow maintenance activities, butcan also be used in connection with other maintenance activities. Anembodiment of the system and method for use in non-snow maintenanceactivities will now be described.

As in the previously described embodiments, the smart modem systemcollects and transmits selected output information regarding a vehiclestate and/or its occupant(s) and/or receives selected input informationfor use by the vehicle and/or its operator. Each of the smart modemsystems is in communication with a wireless public or private network.The wireless network is, in turn, in communication with an enterpriseLocal Area Network or LAN. The modem systems collect selected types ofinformation and continually or periodically forward the information, viathe network, to the enterprise network for storage and processing. Thestored and processed information can be accessed locally and directly byclients, such as PCs and laptops, internal to the enterprise network orremotely by clients external to the enterprise network. The storedinformation is typically indexed by a unique SMD device name andcorresponding vehicle name pairing. The wireless network can be any typeof wireless service and/or air interface. The public or private networkcan be either landline or wireless.

The information collected by the modem system can vary depending on theapplication. For example, the system may associate GPS location datawith a maintenance need, such as by noting the location of potholes,lights in need of repair, guardrails in need of repair, areas thatrequire spraying for weeds and/or mowing, damages to bridges orabutments, damages to roadway signs, areas that require cleaning orother roadway elements requiring maintenance. This information can thenbe relayed to the enterprise network so that work orders to complete thenecessary repairs can be generated. Likewise, the system can collectdata regarding work done by the crews, so that as work orders tocomplete repairs are completed by the crews, the system can note thatthe repairs were made. In this way the system can track both repairsthat need to be done, as well as the completion of those repairs andkeep an up-to-date list of items requiring maintenance intervention.Just as it does in the winter, the system can also collect weatherinformation. Weather information can be acquired through sensors mountedon the maintenance vehicle, or it can be input manually by an operator.The weather information can be then be sent to the enterprise networkand used in addition to or in combination with other weather feeds orforecasts to provide up-to-date weather observations.

The enterprise network can perform a variety of data processingfunctions. The network, for example, can compare information or a givensensed parameter to identify trends or differences and, if necessary,generate appropriate alarms. The alarms can be logged internally and/orforwarded to the respective vehicle via the modem system. The vehicleoperator and/or automated components thereof can then take appropriateremedial action to address the cause of the alarm. The communicationscan, for example, provide instructions to the vehicle operator, such asvehicle and/or ancillary device operation and dispatch commands, and/orto automated components of the vehicle itself to remotely controlselected vehicle operations.

Providing accurate weather information to crews in the field isessential for both safety as well as efficient operations. For instance,crews working on metal guardrail repairs must be notified of anythunderstorm activity in the area they are working. Lightning strikes tometal guardrails can result in current travelling significant distancesthrough the guardrail, and indeed workers have been killed or seriouslyinjured while working on guardrails as a result of lightning strikes asignificant distance removed from the area of work. Likewise, work ondrainage culverts or other areas that might be subject to flash floodingshould not be done if rain is likely, as there will be a risk to workersas a result of flooding. With regard to efficiency, certain maintenanceprocesses should only be carried out in favorable weather conditions.For instance, concrete should not be poured in rainy conditions thatwill impact the finished surface of the pour and spraying for weedsshould not be conducted in windy conditions where the treatmentmaterials will be dispersed by the wind instead of remaining on theplants. Similarly, painting operations should not take place in windyconditions to avoid overspray. Thus, the system provides weather data tothe maintenance vehicles, including notifications of thunderstormactivity and notifications of wind activity to address these safety andefficiency issues.

In one configuration, the data processing can provide a spatial mapshowing vehicle locations, vehicle operations, and other information.Text information can be depicted on the map adjacent to or associatedwith icon representing the vehicles. The map can also depict, for aselected vehicle, a trace route over a selected period of time. A traceroute indicates the path of travel of the vehicle over the selected timeperiod.

In the described embodiment, the modem systems commonly include a smartmodem device and peripherals thereof, such as a video monitor (e.g., atouchscreen), external GPS and connection antenna, and wired or wirelessconnections to internal vehicular components.

Another function the system can perform is tracking material usage. Thisfunction has particular applicability in winter-usage of the system, butthe function can also be used year-round. Tracking the usage of de-icingmaterials, for example, will allow the operator of a maintenancedepartment to better forecast material usages, which in turn will allowthe operators to purchase these materials in times of the year whenmarket conditions are more favorable, rather than waiting for the supplyof the materials to run out and being forced to obtain the materials atthe going rate in the market. For example, a fixed camera can be placedin the storage location for deicing materials and can be used toestimate the remaining stock of these materials. Alternatively, thetracking of material usage could be accomplished by having operators keyin the data into the system, or the data could be dynamically updated bytracking usage by the individual vehicles tracked by the system.Furthermore, the system can track material usage year-to-year andthereby provide estimates for the purchase of de-icing materials inadvance of the need for those materials, again allowing for the purchaseof the materials at the most favorable times of year.

In another embodiment of the system and method, accident data isprovided to the maintenance decision support system. This accident datamay take the form of real-time accident data (e.g. acquired in real timefrom the highway patrol or other sources) and/or historical accidentdata (e.g. acquired on a post-event basis from the highway patrol orother sources). More particularly, this accident data takes the form ofgeographic coordinates of traffic accidents. Optionally, the accidentdata can contain the date and time of traffic accidents, weather androad conditions at the time of the accident and other relevantinformation pertaining to the traffic accident. The maintenance decisionsupport system can use the accident data to determine locations along agiven road segment that are particularly susceptible to accidents andcan determine the weather conditions that exacerbate these conditions.For example, a particular segment may be exposed to a northwest windthat causes the segment to accumulate snow or ice faster than othersegments of the same road. By determining the locations along a roadsegment that are particularly susceptible to causing accidents and theweather conditions to aggravate these accident conditions, themaintenance decision support system can determine instructions specificto that accident-prone locations. Once the system has identifiedproblematic locations during storm events (e.g. by looking at a 5 yearrecord of accidents during storm events) it will allow the system tofocus additional efforts on such areas—some such areas may requireseveral times the amount of coverage in terms of repetition andmaterials as the rest of the road segment. This could significantly helpimprove overall traffic flows and road carry capacity even duringstorms.

In another embodiment of the system and method, real-time vehicle speedand volume on a given road segment can be provided to the maintenancedecision support system. Many states have deployed roadside sensorswhich can detect the speed at which vehicles are traversing a givensegment of road. Likewise these sensors can also determine the volume oftraffic on a given road segment. It is further expected with theincreasing location based systems installed in vehicles, combined withthe increase in data acquisition and analysis being performed in andfrom vehicles, it will be possible to obtain speed and/or volume datadirectly for and from vehicles traversing a given road segment. Whenroad conditions deteriorate and drivers slow down to negotiate the nowtreacherous roads, changes in speed and volume can identify areasrequiring special attention. By providing real-time vehicle speed andvolume data to the maintenance decision support system, the system cangauge the acquired data against normal speed/volume profiles for a givenroad segment, with an overall objective of maintaining maximum roadcarry capability. Output from the system can be disseminated not only tomaintenance vehicle drivers and supervisors, but to traffic controlcenters (e.g. for adjusting variable speed limits, ramp access and evenroad closures) and to the public (through call-in and especiallymobile/web based applications).

Speed and volume profiles for a given road segment are much like theprofile of a saw blade. When vehicle spacing starts getting too tight,speed and volume crash sharply. The crash is typically either causedwhen vehicles start getting too close to each other and start slowingdown, or worse when an accident occurs and traffic backs up. After thecause of the slowdown dissipates, the speed will gradually climb backup. Speed and volume combine to give the carry capacity of the road(i.e. how many vehicles can traverse a given road segment in a givenperiod of time). When speed and volume information is integrated intothe system, along with normal speed/volume profiles for a given segmentof road, the system can identify where speed and volume are beginning todeviate from norms and the road may need more maintenance attention.Traffic flows best at a relatively stable rate, and rate disparitysignificantly contributes to accidents. Thus, it is desirable to keeptraffic flowing fairly steady at a fairly good speed. It does little tohave most of a given portion of road flowing if there is a non-flowingstretch every now and then, as traffic will back-up from the badportions into the good portions.

In another embodiment of the system and method, the maintenance decisionand support system can make a determination as to whether the forecastwas off, or whether the treatment recommendations provided or theexecution of those recommendations was to blame for any traffic problemsthat developed during a weather event. During a weather event, thesystem closely monitors what the snowplow operators did, how the weatheris shaping up to forecasts, where traffic incidents are occurring and/orwhere there are deviations from the speed/volume profiles, and adjuststhe treatment strategy accordingly. After the weather event, the systemcan review these same factors and better determine whether there wereissues in the forecast, recommendations or execution. For example,execution of the treatment strategy may have been entirely correct, butthe weather was colder than forecast and the treatment strategy was notadjusted quickly enough. Conversely, it may be determined that theforecast and treatment strategy were correct, but the execution of thetreatment strategy was the problem (for example—snowplow crews startedout too late; snowplows following too closely behind each other;snowplows didn't getting to or stay on top of problem areas). Based onthese determinations, the system can adjust its recommendations infuture weather events based on factors that occurred in prior weatherevents.

The present invention, in various embodiments, includes components,methods, processes, systems and/or apparatus substantially as depictedand described herein, including various embodiments, subcombinations,and subsets thereof. Those of skill in the art will understand how tomake and use the present invention after understanding the presentdisclosure. The present invention, in various embodiments, includesproviding devices and processes in the absence of items not depictedand/or described herein or in various embodiments hereof, including inthe absence of such items as may have been used in previous devices orprocesses, e.g., for improving performance, achieving ease and\orreducing cost of implementation.

The foregoing discussion of the invention has been presented forpurposes of illustration and description. The foregoing is not intendedto limit the invention to the form or forms disclosed herein. In theforegoing Detailed Description for example, various features of theinvention are grouped together in one or more embodiments for thepurpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is notto be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed inventionrequires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather,as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than allfeatures of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the followingclaims are hereby incorporated into this Detailed Description, with eachclaim standing on its own as a separate preferred embodiment of theinvention.

Moreover, though the description of the invention has includeddescription of one or more embodiments and certain variations andmodifications, other variations and modifications are within the scopeof the invention, e.g., as may be within the skill and knowledge ofthose in the art, after understanding the present disclosure. It isintended to obtain rights which include alternative embodiments to theextent permitted, including alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalentstructures, functions, ranges or steps to those claimed, whether or notsuch alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions,ranges or steps are disclosed herein, and without intending to publiclydedicate any patentable subject matter.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: (d) receiving from aplurality of maintenance vehicles and by a server, a plurality of setsof collected information, each of the sets of collected informationcomprising a maintenance vehicle physical location and at least one ofweather conditions in an area of the maintenance vehicle and anadditional data parameter; (e) processing, by the server, the receivedcollected information to (i) provide a map associated with a physicallocation of a selected maintenance vehicle and (ii) determine aninstruction for the selected maintenance vehicle; and (f) providing themap and the instruction to a user.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein theinstruction comprises one or more of a dispatch command, an alarm basedon a trend in weather conditions, an alarm based on a difference inweather conditions, a notification of thunderstorm activity, anotification of wind activity, or a work order for roadway maintenance.3. The method of claim 1, wherein the additional data parametercomprises one or more of a location of a pothole, a location of a brokenlamp, a location of a broken guardrail, a location of areas requiringmowing, a location of areas requiring spraying, a location of areasrequiring cleaning, a location of bridge damage, a location of otherroad damage, or a location of work being performed by the crew of themaintenance vehicle.
 4. The method of claim 1 further comprising thesteps of: (1) determining, by at least one processor, that at least oneof a received signal strength from a wireless network and a Quality ofService (“QoS”) parameter is not acceptable; (2) buffering, by the atleast one processor, the collected information when the at least one ofa received signal strength from a wireless network and a QoS parameteris not acceptable; (3) when the at least one of a received signalstrength from a wireless network and a QoS parameter is acceptable,sending, by the at least one processor, from an Internet Protocol (“IP”)address of the of the at least one processor, and over a wirelessnetwork, the collected information and physical location to anelectronic address associated with the server.
 5. The method of claim 1,wherein the user is an operator of the respective maintenance vehicle.6. The method of claim 5, wherein the instruction and the map aretransmitted over a wireless network to a handheld device associated withthe user.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the user is a supervisor notlocated in the respective maintenance vehicle.
 8. The method of claim 7,wherein the at least one of the map and the instruction are provided tothe supervisor at a non-portable computer terminal.
 9. The method ofclaim 7, wherein the at least one of the map and the instruction areprovided to the supervisor at a portable computer via a wireless signal.10. The method of claim 7, wherein the supervisor sends the at least oneof the map and the instruction to the operator of the respectivemaintenance vehicle.
 11. A system, comprising: a server operable to: (d)receive from a plurality of maintenance vehicles, a plurality of sets ofcollected information, each of the collected sets of informationcomprising a maintenance vehicle physical location and at least one ofweather conditions in an area of the respective maintenance vehicle andan additional date parameter; (e) process the received collectedinformation: (i) to provide a map associated with a physical location ofa selected maintenance vehicle; (ii) to determine an instruction for theselected maintenance vehicle; and (f) provide the map and theinstruction to a user.
 12. The system of claim 11, wherein theinstruction comprises one or more of a dispatch command, an alarm basedon a trend in weather conditions, an alarm based on a difference inweather conditions, a notification of thunderstorm activity, anotification of wind activity, or a work order for roadway maintenance.13. The system of claim 11, wherein the additional data parametercomprises one or more of a location of a pothole, a location of a brokenlamp, a location of a broken guardrail, a location of areas requiringmowing, a location of areas requiring spraying, a location of areasrequiring cleaning, a location of bridge damage, a location of otherroad damage, or a location of work being performed by the crew of themaintenance vehicle.
 14. The system of claim 11 further comprising: aprocessor operable to: (1) determine that at least one of a receivedsignal strength from a wireless network and a Quality of Service (“QoS”)parameter is not acceptable; (2) buffer the collected information whenthe at least one of a received signal strength from a wireless networkand a QoS parameter is not acceptable; (3) when the at least one of areceived signal strength from a wireless network and a QoS parameter isacceptable, send, from an Internet Protocol (“IP”) address of the of theprocessor, and over a wireless network, the collected information andphysical location to an electronic address associated with the server.15. The system of claim 11, wherein the user is an operator of therespective snow maintenance vehicle.
 16. The system of claim 15, whereinthe instruction and the map are transmitted over a wireless network to ahandheld device associated with the user.
 17. The system of claim 11,wherein the user is a supervisor not located in the respective snowmaintenance vehicle.
 18. The system of claim 17, wherein the at leastone of the map and the instruction are provided to the supervisor at anon-portable computer terminal.
 19. The system of claim 17, wherein theat least one of the map and the instruction are provided to thesupervisor at a portable computer via a wireless signal.
 20. The systemof claim 17, wherein the supervisor sends the at least one of the mapand the instruction to the operator of the respective snow maintenancevehicle.